Source: Christian Today

By Jeffrey Imm

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports the universal human rights of freedom of religion for all. But for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, such freedom is regularly under attack especially in Pakistan and among other areas of the world, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

R.E.A.L. has previously reported on terrorist attacks on Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as terrorist killings in the United Kingdom and official institutionalized attacks on Ahmadi Muslim freedom of religion in Indonesia.

In Pakistan, such institutionalized hatred and denial of religious freedom of Ahmadi Muslims is part of Pakistan law and government practice. This includes the anti-Ahmadiyya Ordinance XX of 1984 “to prohibit the Qadiani group, Lahori group and Ahmadis from indulging [what the the Pakistan government calls] anti-Islamic activities.” This Ordinance XX effectively prevents Ahmadi Muslims from preaching or professing their Muslim beliefs. In Pakistan, Ahmadi Muslims are denied the right to profess the Islamic creed publicly or call their places of worship mosques. In addition to such institutionalized persecution in Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is a target by anti-human rights extremists who have committed terrorist attacks on their mosques during prayers killing 100 worshipers, attacks on Ahmadi Muslims throughout Pakistan, and use of Pakistan’s “blasphemy law” to target and officially persecute Ahmadi Muslims.

An annual report is issued on the stark persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan, titled “A Report on Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan.” The latest such report, for the year 2015, shows the extreme and institutionalized persecution against Ahmadi Muslims. The report, published in English and in Urdu,

In May 2016, the Persecution of Ahmadis group has stated: “Pakistan is increasingly descending into chaos and becoming a place where members of Ahmadiyya community are increasingly marginalized. It has become very difficult for Ahmadis to live and practice their faith in peace. There is an organised campaign underway to deprive the members of community of their basic rights, such as right to worship and work or take education. The hate mongers seem to have an extensive support network and funding to publish hate material and organised conferences and events to spew hatred. There was a significant increase in hate propaganda against the community. The government agencies responsible for implementing the laws are being manipulated by opponents of the community. Instead of upholding the law, they continue to cave into the demands of extremists.”

In the annual report, there is a discussion of forced ban on Ahmadiyya literature, as well as the growing proliferation of violent anti-Ahmadi literature such as the “sale of the ‘Tohfa Qadianiat’ written by Maulvi Yusuf Ludhianwi, in which he requires the readers ‘not to leave a single Qadiani alive on earth’.” The report also states: “Majlis Tahaffuz Khatme Nabuwwat Peshawar issued a pamphlet which states: ‘It is Jihad to shoot such people (Ahmadis) in the open.’ ”

This annual report also describes the killing of Ahmadi Muslims for their faith. It states: “Ahmadis have been murdered for their faith since the promulgation of Ordinance XX. Till now hundreds have been killed, and not even 5% of the killers have faced justice. People are told by mullas that Ahmadis are Wajib ul Qatl ‘must be killed’. All this encourages criminals to attempt murder. ” In 2015, this included known reports of two Ahmadi Muslims for their faith in Lahore and in DJ Khan.

In Lahore, the report describes the murder of a 21 year old man, Nauman Najam. It states an: “Ahmadi youth, Mr Nauman Najam was shot dead in Karachi at about 8 p.m. in his shop by unidentified killers. Earlier in 1974 anti-Ahmadi riots in Gujranwala, three of his elders, the grandfather and two uncles were killed on one day by the mob.” The report also quoted an Ahmadiyya head office press release: “He was a decent and law-abiding citizen who was liked by everyone who knew him. His life stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of sectarian hate-mongers. His killers clearly came with one motive and that was to kill him because of his faith, as he had no animosity with anyone or had any political association. The spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Pakistan Saleemuddin said, ‘This death because of a callous attack on an innocent man is saddening but not surprising as with discriminatory laws present in Pakistan every Ahmadi’s life is in danger. It has been highlighted many times that the situation for Ahmadis in Pakistan is worsening with every passing day, and during last year 11 Ahmadis were killed because of their faith. Hate mongering and hate crimes against Ahmadis show no signs of abating. On the other hand the government has made tall claims to curb hate speech but on the ground hate material is openly published and distributed with impunity. ‘”

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